Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online.

USDA Seeks Independent Reviewers for Value-Added Producer Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking well-qualified individuals to serve as independent reviewers for the 2013-2014 round of the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG). Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in an agriculture or business field, have a minimum of eight years of experience, and comply with reviewer requirements for training, confidentiality, and conflict of interest.
If interested, please e-mail your resume to cpgrants@wdc.usda.gov.

Inflatable Scarecrows Protect Vineyards, Orchards Vineyard and orchard owners who suffer crop damage inflicted by birds may have a new control option, reports TheWall Street Journal. Inflatable "dancing" tube men--often used for advertising at car dealerships--are showing success as deterrents to bird pests in a federally funded study.

Robinson New Director of NCAT Office in Des Moines Ann Y. Robinson is the new director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology's (NCAT) Midwest Regional Office in Des Moines, Iowa. Robinson will be responsible for leading NCAT's programs as well as marketing and fundraising for the Midwest Regional Office and its projects, including the popular FoodCorps.
Robinson has a background in project management, communications, and public policy in the areas of natural resources conservation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and horticulture.

Canadian Research Explores Bee Vectoring for Plant Pest Control Radio Canada International reports that Canadian government researchers have found ways to use pollinating bees to deliver pest-control agents. In the research, bumblebees leaving their hive walk through a tray of microbial control agents that they then apply to each of the flowers they visit.
The technology is being developed for commercial use by a company called Bee Vectoring Technology.

South Dakota Rancher Relief Fund
The Rancher Relief Fund has nearly $ 2 million to distribute to South Dakota livestock producers impacted by the devastating October blizzard. If you are a livestock producer or know a livestock producer who was affected by the October blizzard, complete the one-page online application or nomination form. The deadline for applications and nominations is December 31, 2013.

Kentucky Small Scale Farm Grant Program
The KSU Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families Small Scale Farm Grant Program supports farmers who are motivated to improve their farming operations or improve the marketability of their products. The grants support three priority areas: certified organic farming, value-added enterprise development, and aquaculture farming and marketing. For 2014, evaluation dates are February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1, 2014.

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Small Grants
The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development small grants program will make awards of up to $20,000 to teams involving land-grant employees drawn from at least two north central states. Awards will be made in the following areas: innovation diffusion for rural development, sustainable communities, leadership development, or entrepreneurial communities. Proposals are due January 31, 2014.

Organic Seed Growers Conference January 30 - February 1, 2014
Corvallis, Oregon
This conference brings together hundreds of farmers, plant breeders, researchers, university extension, certifiers, food companies, seed production and distribution companies, and other organic stakeholders for two days of presentations, panel discussions, and networking events.

Virginia Biological Farming Conference January 30 - February 1, 2014
Richmond, Virginia
More than 500 passionate supporters of sustainable and organic farming and gardening will have the chance to participate in sessions on production and marketing.
Keynote speakers are biodynamic beekeeper Gunther Hauk and NRCS soil health expert Ray Archuleta.

NOFA-NJ Winter Conference January
24-26, 2014
Lincroft, New Jersey
The NOFA-NJ Winter Conference is "Organic: A Better Way to Feed Communities." Keynote speakers are Fred Kirschenmann and John Ikerd. Pre-conference workshops and six different session tracks are offered. Beginning farmer scholarships are offered.

Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives
Digital versions of recent and archived Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters are available online. ATTRAnews is the newsletter of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - ATTRA - was developed and is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The project is funded through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

Visit the NCAT website for more information on our other sustainable agriculture and energy projects.